Table shuffleboard



July 2l, 1936. H. B. LusE TABLE SHUFFLEBOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -i-NFiledfNov. 9, 1953 July 21,1936- I H. B. LusE 2,048,275

Y yTABLE sHUFFLEBoARD Filed Nov. 9, 193s z sheets-sheet 2 a A7 90 92 93if f7 www Patented July 2l, 1936 TABLE SHUFFLEBOARD Harry B. Luse, LosAngeles, Calif., assigner of one-half to William H. Dunson, Inglewood,

Calif.

Application November 9, 1933, Serial No. 697,256

9 Claims.

My invention relates to a coin control game simulating the game ofshuffle-board and is designed as a game of skill in which the game canonly be initiated on the deposit of a coin.

An object and feature of my invention is the construction of a tablestructure on which the game of shule-board may be played, together witha device for returning the weights or playing pieces to the startingline or position from which the weights are shot or impelled. A furtherfeature of my invention is making the returning device for the weightsdependent for its operation on the use of a coin, thus requiring aplayer to use and manipulate the coin before the player can play thegame after positioning the playing .pieces at the starting end of theboard.

A further object and feature of my invention las regards the device forreturning the weights to the starting line is theuse of a lazy tong typeof extension arm which may be used to move the weights from the end ofthe board which has the score marking to the initial or starting point.A further detail feature is in requiring the use of a coin beforetheweight-returning device may be extended to the rear end of the boardto allow playing the game after shifting the weights` towards thestarting line for the game.

A further object and feature of my invention is the use of a slidableimpeller or cue which may be used to impel the weights from the startingpoint or line towards the scoring end of the board, these weightssliding on the board. The cue may be adjusted laterally and also pivotedon a vertical `axis so that the weights may be shot from any.

position transversely of the starting line and impelled either directlylongitudinally of the board or at an angle to the sides.

A further feature of my invention employs a setting device by which theweights, after being returned to av position adjacent to the startingline may be manipulated or adjusted to the places desired by the playeron this starting line.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on the line I-I of Fig. 2 taken in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 2 is a substantially horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 takenin the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3'3 in Fig. 1 in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical' section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 in the directionof the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l in thedirection of the arrows,4

, manner:

In constructing my invention I employ acabinet structure II which isillustrated as having a iloor or bottom I2 and is supported on legs I3.

The cabinet has opposite side walls I4, a back wall I5, front wall I6and has a glass' or transparent 5 cover I 1. Extending longitudinally ofthe cabinet there is the game board I8 on which the game ofshuflie-board is played. This extends end to end between the iront andback walls but is spaced from the side walls by the space or slots 10I9, one adjacent each side wall except adjacent the front wall thereare'closure strips 20 at the end of the slots. The game board has atransverse recessed section 2|, adjacent the front wall and the shoulder22 (note Fig. 4) forms the 15, starting line for the game and adjacentthe starting line there are a series of pins 23 against which theweights or playing pieces 24 may be adjusted. These playing pieces areillustrated as being constructed of at discs with a recessed center por-2o tion 25 leaving a peripheral rim 26. vThe game board is laid out withscore markings 21 which isV illustrated as bounded by the triangularrulings 28 in `which there is a back line 29, transverse lines 30 and 3land a longitudinal line 32. The 25 apex 33 of the triangular ruled spaceis towards the front or the starting or playing line of the board. Thespaces 34 thus ruled off on the board for numerals 35 indicating thescores for each space.

When the weights or playing pieces are positioned adjacent the startingline or pins 23 in a manner hereinafter described they may be adjustedinto positionsfor playing in the following The front wall I6 is providedwith an upper transverse slot 31 through which extends an adjusting orpositioning handle 38 (note Figs. 1, 2, and 3). This adjusting handlehas a hand grip end 39, a shank 40 extending therefrom, a hooked end 4Iwhich latter is provided with a prong 42. A circular section 43 adjacentthe prong prevents this manipulating handle from being entirelywithdrawn or retracted from the slot 31. In the normal or inoperativeposition of this setting implement it may be suspended in the front andat one side of the game board in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and3. However,f when it is desired to position the weights in contact withthe pins the hook end may be thrust inwardly by raising the hand gripend and `the recess 25 in the desired weight engaged by Y the prong, theprong catching on the rim 26, thus moving the weight into contact with apair of the which square may slide in recess 2| Vof the game board. Acoil spring 52 surrounds part of the rod and contacts a partlyspherical'washer 53 which washer is designed to engage the inside coverplate 35 at the slot M. A nger manipulating end 543 is on the other endof the cue opposite the headV 5 l. slot in the front wall l5 the cuemaybe moved vfromoneside to the other of the game board and due to theVpartly spherical washer .53 may be inclined Yat an'angle tothe board. Bythe finger grip 54 the rod'50 may be pulled outwardly sothat the spring5,2 is compressed. Then when thenger-grip end 54 isreleased theV springpro- 'jects the head 5l. inwardly into Contact with the desired weightpositioned at the starting line and in contact with apair .of pins. Theimpulse then .causesthe weight or-playing piece Vtoslide on thegameboard into the desired position on the Yscoring chart or toreboundfrom the sides or from'the rear end of the cabinet.

TheV device `for returning the playing pieces from'the scoring end ofthe board to the starting position is constructed as follows: Thisemploys alazy tongs type of arm 55 which lemploys links 55. YThese linksat their intersection'are pivotally connected as indicated at 57 and attheir ends Vas indicated at 55. A simple Way'to constructr the links isto have single rods overlapping Vand pivoted to double rods. Y At theinner end: of the lazy tongs arm each of the last "links 59 isprovidedwith a pin 50 (note Fig. 5)

which'v pinmay slide inV a transverse slot 5l in a bracket 52',- thishaving Y.upper and lower horizontal portions 53. and 55 and a verticalweb 65. 4The"vertical `webs Yof the brackets extend up- 'wardly throughthe slotsk i9 fromloelow the game board and betweenrthese ns is ashifting strip 56- which slides on'. top.Y ofthe game board transvcrselyand 'is usedfto return the playing pieces `irom" the` scoring end totheinitial or starting end of' the gameboard.

Adjacent the front wall I 6 and on the inside VVthere is-locatedachannel or similar structure 5l,

'thisl extending transversely across the game Yboard and preferablybeing secured at its'ends to theclosureforller Astrips 25 (note Figs. 3and 94)'. This channel is illustrated as having a web `68 and upper andlower flanges 59 and 'I5 and through Athese flanges at the-end there arever- "tical 'slots lvl. The outer-end linksrlZ of the lazy i to VVtongare provided with pins'3 operating in these "slots 'As thesefend linksare one single and the other a double link'it-is'necessary to use llerI'pices 'ld tohave aproper t in the channel b etween the flanges. f

" 'f The device fori retracting the lazy tong arms to #move the shiftingstrip- 6G. from the scoringA end Yto-the starting vend ofthegame'boardemploys anoperating rod"15 which mayY 'slide 'through avbushing 161 infthefr'ontwall 'l-G (note Figs. 1 to 4) 51A? bea-ringplate 7J- rests on a false Vbottom or iioor 18, this latter extendingfrom the rearfwall t box 85. projection head 5l on its inner end, oneside of On account of the transverse i5 of the cabinet to a positionindicated at 19 substantially below the shoulder 22 of the game board.This bearing plate ll is provided with a longitudinal slot 8B, acircular opening 8| in the slot for discharge of pennies or slugs, asecond circular opening 82 for the discharge of genuine coins such asnickels. The slugs and. pennies fall through a slug chute 83 into a slugor penny receiving box 85. The coins such as nickels drop through a coinchute 85 into a coin These boxes rest on the floor or bottom i12' of thecabinet.

' The operating rod 'l5 is provided with a longitudinal slot 57, thishaving a stop end 88. The outer end of the rod is provided with a handleend 89 which extends downwardly outside of the front wall or" thecabinet. A circular coin pocket S10-is provided in the operating rod 'i5intersecting the slot Si. A projecting end 9| of the bearing plate 'iextends beyond the front wall I6 of the cabinet to engage the under sideof coinsdeposited in the coin pocket Si] outside of the front wall ofthecabinet.

A main actuating pin 9i.V forms the center pivot of the intersecting end.links T2' of the lazy tong adjacent the front end of the cabinet. Thelower end 93 of this pin extends downwardly into the longitudinal slot8l of the operating rodA "l5 and may also extendv into the slot Bil ofthe `bearing plate l1. The parallel wear strips 94 are placed on theupper side of the false bottom 'E31 to engage the links of the lazy tongshould these sag or to form aisupport for the intersecting. portions ofthe links.

Presuming the shifting strip G6 is in the position illustrated in Figs..1 and 2, that is, at the rear end i5. of the cabinet beyond the scoremarkings and also presuming a game has been played and the Weights areadjacent to this end thena person vdesiring to play a game ofVshuffle-board may pull outwardly on the handle end 89 of the shiftingrod T5. This causesthe rod to slide until Ythe endv 93 of the pin 52engagesthe stop rend 88 at the end of the longitudinal slot 8l in thisrod. Further pulling out of the rod 'i5 folds the links of the lazy tongand thus slides the shifting bar 65 from the position illustrated infull lines in Fig..l to the dotted line position 66',v the limit ofmovement being by the web 65 contacting with Ythe'iller piece 2l) ateach end of the slots I9. In this folding action of the lazy tong linksthe ends of the end links slide in the slots 6l at the rear end and'llat the front end thus allowing for the `transverse spreading of thelinks. This Ymovement of the shifting strip moves the playing pieces orWeights to position substantially shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

Before a player can return the shifting strip 66 from the positionadjacent the front end of the cabinet to that adjacent the rear end itis necessary Ato'A place a coin in the coin pocket S0 of the operatingrod 75. VThis coin' then engages the Vpin 92 and shove-s this pin andhence extends the links of the lazy tong until the shifting strip 66againfoccupies its remote position when the coin drops'through thecircular coin slot opening 82 into-'the coin chute 85 and hence into thecoin box. V A proper sized coin passes the smaller opening 8l. but if apenny or an under-sized slug is used such penny or slug willtdropthrough the penny or slug .slot 8i intothe. slug: chute 83. and henceinto the slug 'box 8d andthereiwill beeno. reacting eleme'nt to cause alongitudinal movement of the fet pin 92Land hencert-he. extending of.theilazy tong. -75

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A shuffle-board game comprising in combination a game board, sidewalls extending longitudinally at the sides of said board, meansindicating a starting position for weights or playing pieces, markingson the board indicating scoring positions, a front Wall having a guideslot extending transversely across the board adjacent the startingposition, a cue mounted in said guide slot, said cue having means forswiveling on a vertical axis at said slot to project the weights atvariable angles to the side walls of the board and a spring operatingwith the cue to give a projecting impulse to the weights, a retractionmeans comprising a shifting strip mounted above the surface of theboard, and a lazy tong connected between the strip and to the boardadjacent the starting position to move said shifting strip from aposition beyond the scoring markings on the board to a position adjacentthe starting position to return the projected weights from theirprojected position to a place adjacent the starting position.

2. A shuflie-board game comprising in combination a game board having astarting position with pins to align the playing pieces at one end andscore markings adjacent the opposite end, a guide slot extendingtransversely of the board adjacent the starting position, a cuecomprising a rod slidably mounted in said guide slot, said rod having aprojection head to engage a weight adjacent the starting position, acompressible spring on the rod compressible between the head and thesaid guide means and a finger grip device to compress the said spring, aretraction means consisting of a shifting strip extending transverselyacross the game board and slidable thereon, means to initially positionthe said shifting strip at the end of the board remote from the startingposition, the said positioning means being operative to slide theshifting strip on the surface of the board towards the starting positionto retract the projected weights.

3. A shuile-board game comprising in combination a flatgame board havingmarkings indicating a starting position, lat weights resting on saidboard and a projection means operative substantially parallel tov thesurface of the board to forcibly strike the weights at the startingposition and slide said weights longitudinally of the board, a guidestructure at the end of the game board adjacent the startingV positionand a positioning handle operating in said guide means and having a hookto engage the weights and locate said weights adjacent the startingposition on the board.

4. A shuiiie-board game comprising in combination a game board having ameans forming a starting position, a plurality of discs forming weightsand resting on said board to slide thereon, a projection instrument toengage a weight at the starting position and to project the said weightby sliding the same longitudinally of the board, a retraction stripextending transversely across the board, a lazy tong type of armoperatively connected to said strip, means to retract said lazy tong armto slide said stripfor returning projected weights to a locationadjacent the starting position, the means for retracting the lazy tongarm having a coin holding structure and means mounted on the lazy tongcooperative with the coin therein for extending the lazy tong and movingthe shifting strip from adjacent the starting position to the oppositeend of the board, said means on the lazy tong being operative forretracting the lazy tong. I

5. A shuiiie-board game comprising, in combination, a game board havinga flat surface for supporting playing weights, means to project saidweights longitudinally of the board, a shifting strip extendingtransversely across the top of the board, a retraction and extendingmeans connected to said shifting strip, a shifting rod slidably mounted,means to interengage the shifting rod and the retraction and extensionmeans to collapse the extension means and shift the shifting strip fromthe rear to the front end of the board, said shifting rod having a coinreceiving pocket,- the coin in said pocket being adapted to 2G form aninterengagement with the retracting and extension means to extend theextension means and move the shifting strip from the front to the rearend of the board.

6. A shuflie-board game comprising, in combination, a game board havinga flat surface for sliding playing weights thereon from a front to arear end of the board, a shiftable strip mounted on the top of theboard, a lazy tong arm operatively connected to said shiftable strip, ashifting 3 rod, means for an interengagement between the shifting rodand the lazy tong arm to collapse said arm and move the shifting stripfrom the rear towards the front end of the bo-ard.

7. A shuiiie-board game comprising, in combination, a game board havinga flat` surface for sliding of playing weights from the front to therear end of the board, a shifting strip extending transversely of theboard on the upper surface thereof, a lazy tong arm positioned below theboard and having a connection at the sides of the board with theshifting strip, a pin on the lazy tong arm, a shifting rod having a slotwith a pin engaging therein, said pin when engaged by one end of theslot and by an outward movement of the shifting rod collapses the lazytong arm and moving the shifting strip from the rear towards the frontend of the board, said shifting rod having 'a coin pocket and the coinin said pocket being adapted to engage the said pin whereby on inwardmovement of the shifting rod the lazy tong arm is extended and theshifting strip moved from the front towards the rear end of the board.

8. A shuiiie-board game as claimed in claim 7,

a front wall positioned at the front end of the 5 board and having atransverse slot, a cue having a rod extending through said slot withA aprojection head on the inner end, a washer with a spherical bearingengaging the inside of the end wall, a compression spring between thehead and the washer and a nger grip end on the end of the rod remotefrom the head.

9. A shuiile-board game as claimed in claim 7, the front wall having atransverse slot, a positioning handle having a hand grip end on theoutside of the end wall, said handle extending through the saidlatterslot and having a prong on its inner end adapted to engage a playingweight for the positioning of said weight adjacent the front end of theboard.

HARRY B. LUSE.

